Columbus was recently ranked 19th on a list of the country’s major metropolitan areas in the number of walkable places per capita in a report issued by The Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization.

In order to determine the rankings, visiting Brookings Institution fellow and real estate developer Christopher B. Leinberger found the number of “regional-serving walkable urban places” in the 30 largest metropolitan areas in the country. This means that the cities must provide jobs and retail that bring out-of-towners into the city.

Although the report considers the number of people living in each city, Leinberger admits that it ignores the size of the walkable places in each city.

Columbus Metro Parks staffers were not surprised by Columbus’ ranking due to their recent efforts toward a more walkable Columbus. According to Peg Hanley, spokesman for the Columbus Metro Parks, 75 miles of trails have been added in the last 10 years.

One outlet through which they are doing this is the Franklin County Greenways Initiative, which aims to understand and use streams and rivers in multiple ways. “The Metro Parks especially have been involved in adding paths around the stream corridors,” Hanley says. The program hopes to connect areas of Columbus with these paths.

Although the city has already begun to make improvements, there are ways that could raise its ranking in the future. According to Hanley, the key is to increase publicity and funding. “In some cases it’s getting the word out,” she says. “One thing I think we can do is promote it more.”

Promotion is also the solution according to Steven Michalovich, project coordinator for the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. He explains that the downtown area is often presented as three separate districts instead of one long strip, but this can be changed. “I think people would realize how easy it is to walk to so many different places,” he says.

Michalovich himself lives in the Short North. With a 20 minute commute to downtown or to The Ohio State University campus, he only uses his car once or twice a week, and he’s not the only one. “A lot of people are out and about at all times, it’s just not cars driving by,” he says. “Everything is connected really well in Columbus. You really can walk everywhere.”

Hanley added that many don’t know about the changes that have been made to make Columbus a more walkable city. Similarly, some need to be convinced that walking is a practical option in the city. “You’ve got to convince people it’s safe to walk,” she says.

According to Hanley, these recent changes may make Columbus a more appealing place to graduates of colleges around Central Ohio. She explained that many graduates are leaving Columbus due to a lack of green space and other walkable places. “These people are looking for are health concerns,” says Hanley. However, recent efforts this could soon change Columbus' dormant perception.

Michalovich, a recent college graduate, is a prime example of changing attitudes. “I’m fresh out of college, but I didn’t want to move to the suburbs,” he says. “I definitely think (walkability) is a huge perk of living in the core of the city.”

Over the past few years, Columbus has also taken steps toward health through the Commit to be Fit program. “It gives people options of not just using them to exercise, but to get to work, to walk, to bike, to blade,” Hanley says.

While the walkability trend is encouraged by global warming enthusiasts and may help the environment, Hanley feels that people are more motivated by the need for physical fitness.  “I think that (fitness) is every bit as strong and even more real for individuals,” she says.

Michalovich adds that current world issues will increase the walkability trend. “Just based on gas prices alone I think people are going to look for another way to get around,” he says.

Hanley believes that adding paths to contribute to Columbus’ walkability is well worth the effort. “They make Columbus a more viable, a more livable place,” she says. “I think this is a tremendous compliment to the city of Columbus.”